From Garden to Table: Growing Rosemary and Using It

Growing rosemary in the kitchen garden is one of the most rewarding cultivations. Rosemary is relatively easy to grow and is very popular in the kitchen. Let’s get gardening!

Growing rosemary is one of my favorite herbs to grow and then use in the kitchen. It is sprinkled through recipes all year long and never disappoints me in any season. Whether it’s for holiday simmer pots and cocktails, summer marinades, spring recipes, or fall soups- this herb is a seasonal workhorse in the kitchen.

How Do You Grow Rosemary?

Rosemary is a Mediterranean native and prefers that type of climate: hot, dry weather with mild rains. If those are not your growing conditions, though, how do you make it work in your garden?

First, only plant it in a full sun location. That means at least 6 hours a day. Growing rosemary indoors? Keep it in a southern window for as much daylight as possible.

Second, it needs well draining soil. Amend yours if it’s clay or holds water too long by adding coarse sand. Rosemary does not like soggy toes! Less is more when it comes to water and humidity.

Third, if you’re growing rosemary in a pot, use terracotta because it dries out faster. Picture all of those amazing villas in Tuscany with the stunning terracotta containers!

Fourth, rosemary is pretty hardy, but if you live in a very cold climate (zones 5 and less)-you might need to bring it indoors over the winter for protection or treat it like an annual.

Can You Grow Rosemary from Seed?

The short answer is yes, growing rosemary from seed can be done. However, it’s not the easiest herb to start from seed and requires special attention. If you’re experienced with cold stratification and low germination rates- give it a go! I prefer to buy starter plants like this one from Nature Hills or this one from Lively Root and save the hassle for the professional growers!

Does Rosemary Need Fertilizer?

I find that growing rosemary requires a little neglect to make it happy. It does not need heavy nutrients like tomatoes, or lots of water like cucumbers. Stick it in a sunny dry area and leave it alone.

In my personal kitchen garden, I have it in a raised bed with lavender and sage who appreciate similar growing conditions. I adjust the water flow through the drip irrigation distributors to keep them from being overwatered, and I use good draining soil to help mimic the Mediterranean conditions.

How to Harvest Rosemary

Clipping rosemary often helps to keep it from getting too overgrown and woody. I’ve seen rosemary hedges before! It can become quite large if left to its own devices.

*Ginger Tip: Before you snip- aim for the softer portion of the stem (not the tough woody section) to maintain shape and new growth.

Here in South Carolina, the hot humid weather can create mold and mildew situations that rosemary doesn’t like. So sometimes when I clip my rosemary stems, I choose to cut “inside” the plant to help with airflow. The open air allows it to breathe and dry out faster and that means less problems!

How to Use Rosemary in the Kitchen

I have three ways to use rosemary in my kitchen.

• strip the leaves backwards down the stem (discard stem) and chop the leaves for recipes that need rosemary as a seasoning (marinades, dry rubs, toppings)
• keep the stem and leaves intact for soups, stews and simmer pots, and alongside whole chicken, pork roasts and fish
• dehydrate and make a dried rosemary seasoning to keep on hand

Now that you know how to grow, harvest and use rosemary-let’s start cooking!

Recipes Using Rosemary

When it comes to using rosemary in recipes, I use a very simple formula:

• rosemary-chopped
• garlic-crushed or minced
• lemon-juiced or zested
• olive oil or butter

Combine these together and you will have some serious flavor! This creates an incredible marinade for chicken or fish. When roasting a chicken, press under and over the skin. When roasting red potatoes, sprinkle over them with a drizzle of olive oil or melted butter. Yum!

Here are a few of my family’s favorite recipes that feature fresh rosemary, straight from the garden!

Another favorite way to use rosemary from the garden is to make an Herb Finishing Salt. I share how I do this in my post Easy Holiday Gifts from the Garden. It’s wonderful to have on hand in the kitchen and makes a lovely hostess gift over the holidays.

Rosemary is definitely one of my favorite herbs to grow in the kitchen garden!

Drop a comment below and let me know if you like growing rosemary and how you use it!